TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present invention relates to fuel compositions including certain fuel additives
for providing enhanced engine and/or injector performance, fuel additive packages,
and to methods for using said fuel compositions for improving engine performance and/or
injector performance.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Fuel compositions for vehicles are continually being improved to enhance various
properties of the fuels in order to accommodate their use in newer, more advanced
engines including both gasoline port fuel injected engines as well as gasoline direct
injected engines. Often, improvements in fuel compositions center around improved
fuel additives and other components used in the fuel. For example, friction modifiers
may be added to fuel to reduce friction and wear in the fuel delivery systems of an
engine. Other additives may be included to reduce the corrosion potential of the fuel
or to improve the conductivity properties. Still other additives may be blended with
the fuel to improve fuel economy. Engine and fuel delivery system deposits represent
another concern with modern combustion engines, and therefore other fuel additives
often include various deposit control additives to control and/or mitigate engine
deposit problems. Thus, fuel compositions typically include a complex mixture of additives.
[0003] However, there remain challenges when attempting to balance such a complex assortment
of additives. For example, some of the conventional fuel additives may be beneficial
for one characteristic or one type of engine, but at the same time be detrimental
to another characteristic of the fuel. In some instances, fuel additives effective
in gasoline port fuel injection engines do not necessarily provide comparable performance
in gasoline direct injection engines and vice versa. In yet other circumstances, fuel
additives often require an unreasonably high treat rate to achieve desired effects,
which tends to place undesirable limits on the available amounts of other additives
in the fuel composition. Yet other fuel additives tend to be expensive and/or difficult
to manufacture or incorporate in fuels. Such shortcomings are particularly true in
the context of quaternary ammonium salt fuel additives that are often difficult or
costly to manufacture and/or require relatively high treat rates for performance.
SUMMARY
[0004] According to the present invention there is provided an unleaded gasoline fuel a
fuel composition comprising a major amount of base fuel and a detergent additive package,
wherein the detergent additive package comprises a quaternary ammonium internal salt
detergent and a Mannich base detergent mixture, wherein the quaternary ammonium internal
salt is obtained from amines or polyamines that is substantially devoid of any free
anion species, and wherein the Mannich base detergent mixture comprises a first Mannich
base detergent component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base
detergent component derived from a monoamine, wherein the weight ratio of the first
Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent mixtures ranges from about
1:6 to about 3:1, and wherein the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium internal
salt detergent and the Mannich base detergent mixture ranges from about 1:10 to about
1:100.
[0005] According to the present invention there is further provided the use of an unleaded
gasoline fuel composition for improving engine and/or injector performance in a gasoline
direct injection engine, wherein the unleaded gasoline fuel composition comprises
a major amount of gasoline base fuel and a detergent additive package, wherein the
detergent additive package comprises a quaternary ammonium internal salt detergent
and a Mannich base detergent mixture, wherein the quaternary ammonium internal salt
is obtained from amines or polyamines that is substantially devoid of any free anion
species, and wherein the Mannich base detergent mixture comprises a first Mannich
base detergent component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base
detergent component derived from a monoamine, wherein the weight ratio of the first
Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent mixtures ranges from about
1:6 to about 3: 1, and wherein the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium internal
salt detergent and the Mannich base detergent mixture ranges from about 1:10 to about
1:100.
[0006] According to the present invention there is further provided a method for improving
engine performance and/or injector performance in a gasoline direct injection engine,
the method comprising supplying to the engine an unleaded gasoline fuel composition
comprising a major amount of gasoline base fuel and a detergent additive package wherein
the detergent additive package comprises a quaternary ammonium internal salt detergent
and a Mannich base detergent mixture, wherein the quaternary ammonium internal salt
is obtained from amines or polyamines that is substantially devoid of any free anion
species, and wherein the Mannich base detergent mixture comprises a first Mannich
base detergent component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base
detergent component derived from a monoamine, wherein the weight ratio of the first
Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent mixtures ranges from about
1:6 to about 3:1, and wherein the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium internal
salt detergent and the Mannich base detergent mixture ranges from about 1:10 to about
1:100.
[0007] The method or the use of the previous paragraph may include optional steps, features,
or limitations in any combination thereof. Approaches or embodiments of the method
or use may include one or more of the following: wherein the improved injector performance
is one of improved fuel flow, improved fuel economy, improved engine efficiency, or
combinations thereof; and/or wherein the improved injector performance is measured
by one of injector pulse width, injection duration, injector flow, or combinations
thereof.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a graph showing Long Term Fuel Trim (LTFT) of the Inventive example and
Comparative examples 1 and 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] The unleaded gasoline fuel composition of the present invention comprises combinations
of Mannich detergents and quaternary ammonium salts and, in particular, Mannich detergents
and hydrocarbyl-substituted quaternary ammonium internal salts discovered effective
to provide improved engine and/or injector performance in gasoline direct injection
(GDI) engines. Also provided herein are methods of using or combusting a fuel including
the fuel additive combinations herein to achieve the improved engine and/or injector
performance.
[0010] It has been found by the present inventors that the unleaded gasoline fuel composition
of the present invention provides improved engine and/or injector performance, including
controlling or reducing fuel injector deposits. Improved injector performance may
also lead to one or more of improved fuel flow, improved fuel economy, and/or improved
engine efficiency as determined via one or more of injector pulse width, injection
duration, and/or injector flow.
[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, the unleaded gasoline fuel composition comprises
a gasoline base fuel and a detergent additive package. The detergent additive package
is typically used at a concentration from 6 PTB (23 ppmw) to 528 PTB (2000 ppmw),
preferably from 8 PTB (30 ppmw) to 300 PTB (1125 ppmw), more preferably from 30 PTB
(113 ppmw) to 250 PTB (942 ppmw) (where PTB stands for pounds of additive per thousand
barrels of gasoline).
[0012] The detergent additive package for use herein comprises a Mannich base detergent
mixture that comprises a quaternary ammonium internal salt detergent and a Mannich
base detergent mixture, wherein the quaternary ammonium internal salt is obtained
from amines or polyamines that is substantially devoid of any free anion species,
and wherein the Mannich base detergent mixture comprises a first Mannich base detergent
component derived from a di- or polyamine and a second Mannich base detergent component
derived from a monoamine, wherein the weight ratio of the first Mannich base detergent
to the second Mannich base detergent mixtures ranges from about 1:6 to about 3: 1,
preferably about 1:4 to about 2:1, more preferably about 1:2 to about 2: 1, e.g.,
1:1, and wherein the weight ratio of the quaternary ammonium internal salt detergent
and the Mannich base detergent mixture ranges from about 1:10 to about 1:100, preferably
about 1:20 to about 1:50, more preferably about 1:25 to about 1:35, e.g., about 1:25,
about 1:30, or about 1:35. Suitable Mannich base detergent mixtures for use herein
are disclosed in
US2016/ 0289584. The package may also contain a solvent. Examples of the suitable solvent include
aromatic solvents (e.g., xylene, aromatic 100, aromatic 150, and aromatic 200), paraffinic
solvent, alcohol, petroleum distillates (e.g., gasoline), ester, or a mixture thereof.
The package may further comprise one or more of a demulsifier, a corrosion inhibitor,
an antiwear additive, an antioxidant, a metal deactivator, an antistatic additive,
a dehazer, an antiknock additive, a lubricity additive, and/or a combustion improver.
In one aspect, the quaternary ammonium internal salt detergent and the Mannich base
detergent mixture together constitutes 5-90% of the package.
[0013] In one embodiment herein, a suitable fuel additive package comprises (i) a Mannich
base detergent mixture comprising (a) a first Mannich base detergent component derived
from a di- or polyamine, (b) a second Mannich base detergent component derived from
a monoamine, (ii) a quaternary ammonium internal salt. and (iii) optionally, a carrier
fluid component selected from the group consisting of a polyether monool and polyether
polyol. The ratio weight of the first Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich
base detergent in the fuel additive package ranges from about 1:6 to about 3:1, such
as from about 1:4 to about 2: 1, or from about 1:3 to about 1:1. The ratio weight
of the Mannich base detergent mixture and the quaternary ammonium salt in the detergent
additive package ranges from about 1:10 to about 1:100, preferably about 1:20 to about
1:50, more preferably about 1:25 to about 1:35, e.g., about 1:25, about 1:30, or about
1:35.
[0014] In another aspect of the present invention, the gasoline fuel composition comprises
a combination of Mannich base detergent additives and quaternary ammonium internal
salt detergents instead of a detergent additive package. In this aspect of the present
invention, the Mannich base detergent additives are added to the gasoline base fuel,
either by premixing the individual detergent additives together, optionally together
with one or more antiwear additives and/or one or more succinimde detergents and/or
one or more carrier fluids, and then adding the premix to the gasoline base fuel,
or by adding the individual detergent additives and the individual antiwear additives
and carrier fluids, directly to the gasoline base fuel.
Mannich Base Detergents:
[0015] The Mannich base detergents useful in the present invention are the reaction products
of an alkyl-substituted hydroxy aromatic compound, an aldehyde and an amine. The alkyl-substituted
hydroxyaromatic compound, aldehyde and amine used in making the Mannich detergent
reaction products described herein may be any such compounds known and applied in
the art, provided the Mannich based detergents include at least a first Mannich base
detergent derived from a di- or polyamine and at least a second Mannich base detergent
derived from a dialkyl monoamine.
[0016] Representative alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compounds that may be used in forming
the Mannich base reaction products are polypropylphenol/cresol (formed by alkylating
a phenol/cresol with polypropylene), polybutylphenol or polybutylphenol (formed by
alkylating a phenol/cresol with polybutenes and/or polyisobutylene) and polybutyl-co-polypropylphenol/cresol
(formed by alkylating phenol/cresol with a copolymer of butylene and/or butylene and
propylene). Other similar long-chain alkylphenols may also be used. Examples include
phenols/cresols alkylated with copolymers of butylene and/or isobutylene and/or propylene,
and one or more mono-olefinic co-monomers copolymerizable therewith (e.g., ethylene,
1-pentene, 1-hexene, 1-octene, 1-decene, etc.) where the copolymer molecule contains
at least 50% by weight, of butylene and/or isobutylene and/or propylene units. The
comonomers polymerized with propylene, butylenes and/or isobutylene may be aliphatic
and may also contain non-aliphatic groups, e.g., styrene, o-methylstyrene, p-methylstyrene,
di-vinyl benzene and the like. Thus in any case the resulting polymers and copolymers
used in forming the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compounds are substantially
aliphatic hydrocarbon polymers. In one embodiment herein, polybutylphenol or polybutylcresol
(formed by alkylating a phenol/cresol with polybutylene) is used in forming the Mannich
base detergents. Unless otherwise specified herein, the term "polybutylene" is used
in a generic sense to include polymers made from "pure" or "substantially pure" 1
-butene or isobutene, and polymers made from mixtures of two or all three of 1-butene,
2-butene and isobutene. Commercial grades of such polymers may also contain insignificant
amounts of other olefins. So-called high reactivity polybutylenes having relatively
high proportions of polymer molecules having a terminal vinylidene group, formed by
methods such as described, for example, in
U.S. Pat. No. 4,152,499 and W.
German Offenlegungsschrift 29 04 314, are also suitable for use in forming the long chain alkylated phenol/cresol reactant.
[0017] The alkylation of the hydroxyaromatic compound is typically performed in the presence
of an alkylating catalyst at a temperature in the range of about 50° to about 200°
C. Acidic catalysts are generally used to promote Friedel-Crafts alkylation. Typical
catalysts used in commercial production include sulfuric acid, BF3, aluminum phenoxide,
methanesulphonic acid, cationic exchange resin, acidic clays and modified zeolites.
[0018] The long chain alkyl substituents on the benzene ring of the phenolic compound are
derived from polyolefin having a number average molecular weight (MW) of from about
500 to about 3000 Daltons (preferably from about 500 to about 2100 Daltons) as determined
by gel permeation chromatography (GPC). It is also desirable that the polyolefin used
have a polydispersity (weight average molecular weight/number average molecular weight)
in the range of about 1 to about 4 (suitably from about 1 to about 2) as determined
by GPC.
[0019] The Mannich detergents may be made from a long chain alkylphenol or a long chain
alkylcresol. However, other phenolic compounds may be used including high molecular
weight alkyl-substituted derivatives of resorcinol, hydroquinone, catechol, hydroxydiphenyl,
benzylphenol, phenethylphenol, naphthol, tolylnaphthol, among others. Particularly
suitable for the preparation of the Mannich condensation products are the polyalkylphenol
and polyalkylcresol reactants, e.g., polypropylphenol, polybutylphenol, polypropylcresol,
polyisobutylcresol, and polybutylcresol, wherein the alkyl group has a number average
molecular weight of about 500 to about 2100, while the most suitable alkyl group is
a polybutyl group derived from polybutylene having a number average molecular weight
in the range of about 800 to about 1300 Daltons.
[0020] The configuration of the alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound is that of a
para-substituted monoalkylphenol or a para-substituted mono-alkyl ortho-cresol. However,
any alkylphenol readily reactive in the Mannich condensation reaction may be used.
Thus, Mannich products made from alkylphenols having only one ring alkyl substituent,
or two or more ring alkyl substituents are suitable for use in making the Mannich
base detergents described herein. The long chain alkyl substituents may contain some
residual unsaturation, but in general, are substantially saturated alkyl groups. Long
chain alkyl phenols, according to the disclosure, include cresol. Representative reactants
include, but are not limited to, linear, branched or cyclic alkylene monoamines and
di- or polyamines having at least one suitably reactive primary or secondary amino
group in the molecule. Other substituents such as hydroxyl, cyano, amido, etc., may
be present in the amine compound. In one embodiment, the first Mannich base detergent
is derived from an alkylene di- or polyamine Such di- or polyamines may include, but
are not limited to, polyethylene polyamines, such as ethylenediamine, diethylenetriamine,
triethylenetetramine, tetraethylenepentamine, pentaethylenehexamine, hexaethyleneheptamine,
heptaethyleneoctamine, octaethylenenonamine, nonaethylenedecamine, decaethyleneundecamine
and mixtures of such amines having nitrogen contents corresponding to alkylene polyamines
of the formula H
2N-(A-NH--)
n H, where A is divalent ethylene and n is an integer of from 1 to 10. The alkylene
polyamines may be obtained by the reaction of ammonia and dihaloalkanes, such as dichloro
alkanes. Thus, the alkylene polyamines obtained from the reaction of 2 to 11 moles
of ammonia with 1 to 10 moles of dichloro alkanes having 2 to 6 carbon atoms and the
chlorines on different carbon atoms are suitable alkylene polyamine reactants.
[0021] In one embodiment, the first Mannich base detergent is derived from an aliphatic
linear, branched or cyclic diamine or polyamine having one primary or secondary amino
group and one tertiary amino group in the molecule. Examples of suitable polyamines
include N,N,N",N"-tetraalkyl-dialkylenetriamines (two terminal tertiary amino groups
and one central secondary amino group), N,N,N", N"-tetraalkyltrialkylenetetramines
(one terminal tertiary amino group, two internal tertiary amino groups and one terminal
primary amino group), N,N,N,N",N"-pentaalkyltrialkylene-tetramines (one terminal tertiary
amino group, two internal tertiary amino groups and one terminal secondary amino group),
N,N-dihydroxyalkyl-alpha, omega-alkylenediamines (one terminal tertiary amino group
and one terminal primary amino group), N,N,N'-trihydroxy-alkylalpha, omega-alkylenediamines
(one terminal tertiary amino group and one terminal secondary amino group), tris(dialkylaminoalkyl)aminoalkylmethanes
(three terminal tertiary amino groups and one terminal primary amino group), and like
compounds, wherein the alkyl groups are the same or different and typically contain
no more than about 12 carbon atoms each, and which suitably contain from 1 to 4 carbon
atoms each. In one embodiment, the alkyl groups of the polyamine are methyl and/or
ethyl groups. Accordingly, the polyamine reactants may be selected from N,N-dialkylalpha,
omega-alkylenediamine, such as those having from 3 to about 6 carbon atoms in the
alkylene group and from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms in each of the alkyl groups. A
particularly useful polyamine is N,N-dimethyl-1-,3-propanediamine and N-methyl piperazine.
[0022] Examples of polyamines having one reactive primary or secondary amino group that
can participate in the Mannich condensation reaction and at least one sterically hindered
amino group that cannot participate directly in the Mannich condensation reaction
to any appreciable extent include N-(tert-butyl)-1,3-propanediamine, N-neopentyl-1,
3-propanediamine, N-(tert-butyl)-1-methyl-1,2-ethanediamine, N-(tert-butyl)-1-methyl-1,3-propanediamine,
and 3,5-di(tert-butyl)aminoethyl-1 -piperazine.
[0023] The second Mannich base detergent may be derived from an alkyl-monoamine, that includes,
without limitation, a di-alkyl monoamine such as methylamine, dimethyl amine, ethylamine,
di-ethylamine, propylamine, isopropylamine, dipropyl amine, di-isopropyl amine, butylamine,
isobutylamine, di-butyl amine, di-isobutylamine, pentylamine, dipentyl amine, neopentylamine,
di-neopentyl amine, hexylamine, dihexyl amine, heptylamine, diheptyl amine, octylamine,
dioctyl amine, 2-ethylhexylamine, di-2-ethylhexyl amine, nonylamine, dinonyl amine,
decylamine, didecyl amine, dicyclohexylamine, and the like.
[0024] Representative aldehydes for use in the preparation of the Mannich base products
include the aliphatic aldehydes such as formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propionaldehyde,
butyraldehyde, valeraldehyde, caproaldehyde, heptaldehyde, stearaldehyde. Aromatic
aldehydes which may be used include benzaldehyde and salicylaldehyde. Illustrative
heterocyclic aldehydes for use herein are furfural and thiophene aldehyde, etc. Also
useful are formaldehydeproducing reagents such as paraformaldehyde, or aqueous formaldehyde
solutions such as formalin. A particularly suitable aldehyde may be selected from
formaldehyde and formalin.
[0025] The condensation reaction among the alkylphenol, the specified amine(s) and the aldehyde
may be conducted at a temperature in the range of about 40° C to about 200° C. The
reaction may be conducted in bulk (no diluent or solvent) or in a solvent or diluent.
Water is evolved and may be removed by azeotropic distillation during the course of
the reaction. Typically, the Mannich reaction products are formed by reacting the
alkyl-substituted hydroxyaromatic compound, the amine and aldehyde in the molar ratio
of 1.0:0. 5-2.0:1.0-3.0, respectively.
[0026] Suitable Mannich base detergents for use in the disclosed embodiments include those
detergents taught in
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,231,759,
5,514,190,
5,634,951,
5,697,988,
5,876,468,
6,800,103 and
10,457,884 the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference.
[0027] When formulating the fuel compositions used herein, a mixture of the Mannich base
detergents is used. The mixture of Mannich base detergents includes a weight ratio
of from about 1:6 to about 3:1 of the first Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich
base detergent. In another embodiment, the mixture of Mannich base detergents includes
a weight ratio of from about 1:4 to about 2:1, such as from about 1:3 to about 1:1,
of the first Mannich base detergent to the second Mannich base detergent. The total
amount of Mannich base detergent in a gasoline fuel composition according to the disclosure
may range from about 10 to about 400 parts per million by weight based on a total
weight of the fuel composition.
[0028] An optional component of the fuel compositions and/or additive package(s) described
herein is a succinimide detergent. The succinimide detergent suitable for use in various
embodiments of the disclosure may impart a dispersant effect on the fuel composition
when added in an amount effective for that purpose. The presence of the succinimide,
together with the mixed Mannich base detergents, in the fuel composition is observed
to result in enhanced deposit formation control, relative to the performance of the
succinimide together with either the first or second Mannich base detergent.
[0029] The succinimide detergents, for example, include alkenyl succinimides comprising
the reaction products obtained by reacting an alkenyl succinic anhydride acid, acid-ester
or lower alkyl ester with an amine containing at least one primary amine group.
[0030] Suitable succinimide base detergents for use herein include those disclosed in
US2016/0289584, incorporated by reference herein.
[0031] When the succinimide detergent is present in the fuel compositions/additive packages
herein, the weight ratio of succinimide detergent to Mannich base detergent mixture
preferably ranges from about 0.04: 1 to about 0.2:1.
[0032] In another embodiment, the Mannich base detergent mixture and the succinimide detergent
may be used with a liquid carrier or induction aid. Such carriers may be of various
types, such as for example liquid poly-alphaolefin oligomers, mineral oils, liquid
poly(oxyalkylene) compounds, liquid alcohols or polyols, polyalkenes, liquid esters,
and similar liquid carriers. Mixtures of two or more such carriers may be used. Suitable
carrier fluids for use herein include those disclosed in
US2016/0289584, incorporated herein by reference.
[0033] When the carrier fluid is present, the weight ratio of carrier fluid to Mannich base
detergent mixture preferably ranges from about 0.25:1 to about 1:1.
[0034] The fuel compositions and/or detergent additive packages herein may also comprise
an anti-wear component which may be selected from a hydrocarbyl amide and a hydrocarbyl
imide.
[0035] In one embodiment, the hydrocarbyl amide is an alkanol amide derived from diethanol
amine and oleic acid. In another embodiment, the hydrocarbyl imide is a succinimide
derived from polyisobutenyl succinic anhydride and ammonia. In one embodiment, the
hydrocarbyl amide compound may be one or more fatty acid alkanol amide compounds.
[0036] Suitable anti-wear additives for use herein include those disclosed in
US2016/0289584, incorporated herein by reference.
[0037] Quaternary Ammonium Internal Salt:
The detergent additive package or fuel compositions herein include a quaternary ammonium
salt and, preferably, a quaternary ammonium internal salt or betaine compound. As
used herein, the term 'internal salt' means a molecule that contains an equal number
of positively- and negatively-charged functional groups. The term 'internal salt'
can be used interchangeably with the term 'zwiterrion'. As used herein, the term betaine
is a zwitterion that cannot isomerize to an all-neutral form, such as when the positive
change is located on a quaternary ammonium group. The quaternary ammonium salt additive
may be any hydrocarbyl substituted quaternary ammonium internal salt (or betaine)
obtained from amines or polyamines that are substantially devoid of any free anion
species. For example, such additive may be made by reacting a tertiary amine of the
structure below

wherein each R group of the above structure is independently selected from hydrocarbyl
groups containing from 1 to 200 carbon atoms with a halogen substituted C2-C8 carboxylic
acid, ester, amide, or salt thereof. In approaches, what is generally to be avoided
is quaternizing agents selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbyl substituted
carboxylates, carbonates, cycliccarbonates, phenates, epoxides, or mixtures thereof.
In one embodiment, the halogen substituted C2-C8 carboxylic acid, ester, amide, or
salt thereof may be selected from chloro-, bromo-, fluoro-, and iodo-C2-C8 carboxylic
acids, esters, amides, and salts thereof. The salts may be alkali or alkaline earth
metal salts selected from sodium, potassium, lithium calcium, and magnesium salts.
A particularly useful halogen substituted compound for use in the reaction is the
sodium or potassium salt of a chloroacetic acid.
[0038] As used herein the term "substantially devoid of free anion species" means that the
anions, for the most part are covalently bound to the product such that the reaction
product as made does not contain substantial amounts of free anions or anions that
are ionically bound to the product. In one embodiment, "substantially devoid" means
a range from 0 to less than about 2 weight percent of free anion species, less than
about 1.5 weight percent, less than about 1 weight percent, less than about 0.5 weight
percent, or none.
[0039] In another embodiment, a tertiary amine including monoamines and polyamines may be
reacted with the halogen substituted acetic acid, ester, or other derivative thereof
to provide the quaternary ammonium internal salt additive herein. Suitable tertiary
amine compounds are those of structure above wherein each of R group is independently
selected, as noted above, from hydrocarbyl groups containing from 1 to 200 carbon
atoms. Each hydrocarbyl group R may independently be linear, branched, substituted,
cyclic, saturated, unsaturated, or contain one or more hetero atoms. Suitable hydrocarbyl
groups may include, but are not limited to alkyl groups, aryl groups, alkylaryl groups,
arylalkyl groups, alkoxy groups, aryloxy groups, amido groups, ester groups, imido
groups, and the like. Any of the foregoing hydrocarbyl groups may also contain hetero
atoms, such as oxygen or nitrogen atoms. Particularly suitable hydrocarbyl groups
may be linear or branched alkyl groups. In some embodiments, the tertiary amine may
be the reaction product of a diamine or triamine with one tertiary amine and a hydrocarbyl
substituted carboxylic acid. In other embodiments, some representative examples of
amine reactants which can be reacted to yield compounds of this disclosure include,
but are not limited to, trimethyl amine, triethyl amine, tri-n-propyl amine, dimethylethyl
amine, dimethyl lauryl amine, dimethyl oleyl amine, dimethyl stearyl amine, dimethyl
eicosyl amine, dimethyl octadecyl amine, N,N-dimethylpropane diamine, N-methyl piperidine,
N,N'-dimethyl piperazine, N-methyl-N-ethyl piperazine, N-methyl morpholine, N-ethyl
morpholine, N-hydroxyethyl morpholine, pyridine, triethanol amine, triisopropanol
amine, methyl diethanol amine, dimethyl ethanol amine, lauryl diisopropanol amine,
stearyl diethanol amine, dioleyl ethanol amine, dimethyl isobutanol amine, methyl
diisooctanol amine, dimethyl propenyl amine, dimethyl butenyl amine, dimethyl octenyl
amine, ethyl didodecenyl amine, dibutyl eicosenyl amine, triethylene diamine, hexa-
methylenetetramine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethylethylenediamine, N,N,N',N'-tetramethyl-propylenediamine,
N,N,N',N'-tetraethyl-1,3-propanediamine, methyldicyclohexyl amine, 2,6-dimethylpyridine,
dimethylcylohexylamine, C10-C30-alkyl or alkenyl-substituted amidopropyldimethylamine,
C12-C200-alkyl or alkenyl-substituted succiniccarbonyl-dimethylamine, and the like.
In embodiment, a suitable quaternary ammonium internal salt additive may be the internal
salts of oleyl amidopropyl dimethylamino or oleyl dimethyl amine.
[0040] If the amine contains solely primary or secondary amino groups, it may be necessary
to alkylate at least one of the primary or secondary amino groups to a tertiary amino
group prior to the reaction with the halogen substituted C2-C8 carboxylic acid, ester,
amide, or salt thereof. In one embodiment, alkylation of primary amines and secondary
amines or mixtures with tertiary amines may be exhaustively or partially alkylated
to a tertiary amine. It may also be necessary to properly account for the hydrogens
on the nitrogen and provide base or acid as required (e.g., alkylation up to the tertiary
amine requires removal (neutralization) of the hydrogen (proton) from the product
of the alkylation). If alkylating agents, such as, alkyl halides or dialkyl sulfates
are used, the product of alkylation of a primary or secondary amine is a protonated
salt and needs a source of base to free the amine for further reaction.
[0041] The halogen substituted C2-C8 carboxylic acid, ester, amide, or salt thereof for
use in making the quaternary internal salt additive may be derived from a mono-, di-,
or tri- chloro-, bromo-, fluoro-, or iodo-carboxylic acid, ester, amide, or salt thereof
selected from the group consisting of halogen-substituted acetic acid, propanoic acid,
butanoic acid, isopropanoic acid, isobutanoic acid, tert-butanoic acid, pentanoic
acid, heptanoic acid, octanoic acid, halo-methyl benzoic acid, and isomers, esters,
amides, and salts thereof. The salts of the carboxylic acids may include the alkali
or alkaline earth metal salts, or ammonium salts including, but not limited to the
Na, Li, K, Ca, Mg, triethyl ammonium and triethanol ammonium salts of the halogen-substituted
carboxylic acids. A particularly suitable halogen substituted carboxylic acid, ester,
or salt thereof may be selected from chloroacetic acid or esters thereof and sodium
or potassium chloroacetate. The amount of halogen substituted C2-C8 carboxylic acid,
ester, amide, or salt thereof relative to the amount of tertiary amine reactant may
range from a molar ratio of about 1:0.1 to about 0.1:1.0.
[0042] In yet other embodiments, internal salts of the mixtures herein may be made according
to the foregoing procedures and may include, but are not limited to (1) hydrocarbyl
substituted compounds of the formula R"-NMe
2CH
2COO where R" is from C1 to C30 or a substituted amido group; (2) fatty amide substituted
internal salts; and (3) hydrocarbyl substituted imide, amide, or ester internal salts
wherein the hydrocarbyl group has 8 to 40 carbon atoms. Particularly suitable internal
salts may be selected from the group consisting of polyisobutenyl substituted succinimide,
succinic diamide, and succinic diester internal salts; C8-C40 alkenyl substituted
succinimide, succinic diamide, and succinic diester internal salts; oleyl amidopropyl
dimethylamino internal salts; and oleyl dimethylamino internal salts.
[0043] In yet another embodiment, the quaternary ammonium internal salt of the fuel additives
and fuels herein is an internal salt or betaine compound having the structure of Formula
II below:

wherein Rand R' of the structure above are independently alkylene linkers having 1
to 10 carbon atoms (in other approaches 1 to 3 carbon atoms); R
8 is a saturated alkyl, unsaturated alkenyl, or a linear, branched, or cyclic hydrocarbyl
group or optionally a substituted or unsubstituted C12 to C100 hydrocarbyl group,
preferably a C12 to C100 alkyl, alkenyl, or an aryl group or optionally substituted
aryl group (in one approach, R
8 is a C8 to C20 hydrocarbyl group); each R
9 is independently a linear or branched C1 to C4 alkyl group; and R
10 is a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C4 alkyl group. The internal salts of Formula II may
also be substantially devoid of free anion species as discussed above.
[0044] In another embodiment, the quaternary ammonium salt additive includes the compound
of Formula II above wherein R is a propylene linker, R' is a methylene linker, R
8 is a C8 to C20 hydrocarbyl group, each R
9 is a methyl group, and R
10 is hydrogen. In yet other embodiments, the quaternary ammonium salt internal salt
is selected from oleyl amidopropyl dimethylamine internal salts or oleyl dimethylamino
internal salts. In some embodiments, such additive may be substantially devoid of
free anion species as noted above.
[0045] An exemplary reaction scheme of preparing the quaternary ammonium internal salt is
shown below in the exemplary process of Reaction Scheme I; of course, other methods
of preparing the first quaternary ammonium salt additives described herein may also
be utilized:

In the reaction scheme above, R
8 may be as described above or, in one approach, an alkyl group such as a C12 to C100
hydrocarbyl group; R and R' are independently alkylene linkers having 1 to 10 carbon
atoms; each R
9 is independently a alkyl group or a linear or branched C
1 to C
4 group; and R‴ is an alkyl group or hydrogen.
[0046] A fuel additive package herein may include about 1 to about 15 weight percent of
the quaternary ammonium internal salt, about 1 to about 10 weight percent of the quaternary
ammonium internal salt, or about 1.5 to about 5 weight percent of the quaternary ammonium
internal salt (based on the total active weight of the quaternary ammonium salt in
the fuel additive). When blended into a gasoline fuel, the fuel composition may include
about 0.1 ppmw to about 10 ppmw of the active quaternary ammonium internal salt, about
0.3 ppmw to about 5 ppmw, or about 1 ppmw to about 3 ppmw of the active quaternary
ammonium internal salt, by weight of the fuel composition.
Fuels:
[0047] The fuel compositions herein comprising a major amount of base fuel. As used herein
the term 'major amount' in relation to the base fuel preferably means a level of greater
than 50% v/v, more preferably greater than 60% v/v, even more preferably greater than
70% v/v, especially greater than 80% v/v. In a preferred embodiment herein, 'a major
amount' of base fuel means greater than 90% v/v, more preferably greater than 95%
v/v, even more preferably greater than 98% v/v, based on the total fuel composition.
If the liquid fuel compositions of the present invention contain a gasoline base fuel,
the liquid fuel composition is a gasoline fuel composition. The gasoline may be any
gasoline suitable for use in an internal combustion engine of the spark-ignition (gasoline)
type known in the art, including automotive engines as well as in other types of engine
such as, for example, off road and aviation engines. The gasoline used as the base
fuel in the liquid fuel composition of the present invention may conveniently also
be referred to as 'base gasoline'.
[0048] Gasolines typically comprise mixtures of hydrocarbons boiling in the range from 25
to 230° C. (EN-ISO 3405), the optimal ranges and distillation curves typically varying
according to climate and season of the year. The hydrocarbons in a gasoline may be
derived by any means known in the art, conveniently the hydrocarbons may be derived
in any known manner from straight-run gasoline, synthetically-produced aromatic hydrocarbon
mixtures, thermally or catalytically cracked hydrocarbons, hydrocracked petroleum
fractions, catalytically reformed hydrocarbons or mixtures of these.
[0049] The specific distillation curve, hydrocarbon composition, research octane number
(RON) and motor octane number (MON) of the gasoline are not critical.
[0050] Conveniently, the research octane number (RON) of the gasoline may be at least 80,
for instance in the range of from 80 to 110, preferably the RON of the gasoline will
be at least 90, for instance in the range of from 90 to 110, more preferably the RON
of the gasoline will be at least 91, for instance in the range of from 91 to 105,
even more preferably the RON of the gasoline will be at least 92, for instance in
the range of from 92 to 103, even more preferably the RON of the gasoline will be
at least 93, for instance in the range of from 93 to 102, and most preferably the
RON of the gasoline will be at least 94, for instance in the range of from 94 to 100
(EN 25164); the motor octane number (MON) of the gasoline may conveniently be at least
70, for instance in the range of from 70 to 110, preferably the MON of the gasoline
will be at least 75, for instance in the range of from 75 to 105, more preferably
the MON of the gasoline will be at least 80, for instance in the range of from 80
to 100, most preferably the MON of the gasoline will be at least 82, for instance
in the range of from 82 to 95 (EN 25163).
[0051] Typically, gasolines comprise components selected from one or more of the following
groups; saturated hydrocarbons, olefinic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and
oxygenated hydrocarbons. Conveniently, the gasoline may comprise a mixture of saturated
hydrocarbons, olefinic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, and, optionally, oxygenated
hydrocarbons.
[0052] Typically, the olefinic hydrocarbon content of the gasoline is in the range of from
0 to 40 percent by volume based on the gasoline (ASTM D1319); preferably, the olefinic
hydrocarbon content of the gasoline is in the range of from 0 to 30 percent by volume
based on the gasoline, more preferably, the olefinic hydrocarbon content of the gasoline
is in the range of from 0 to 20 percent by volume based on the gasoline.
[0053] Typically, the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the gasoline is in the range of from
0 to 70 percent by volume based on the gasoline (ASTM D1319), for instance the aromatic
hydrocarbon content of the gasoline is in the range of from 10 to 60 percent by volume
based on the gasoline; preferably, the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the gasoline
is in the range of from 0 to 50 percent by volume based on the gasoline, for instance
the aromatic hydrocarbon content of the gasoline is in the range of from 10 to 50
percent by volume based on the gasoline.
[0054] The benzene content of the gasoline is at most 10 percent by volume, more preferably
at most 5 percent by volume, especially at most 1 percent by volume based on the gasoline.
10055] The gasoline preferably has a low or ultra low sulphur content, for instance
at most 1000 ppmw (parts per million by weight), preferably no more than 500 ppmw,
more preferably no more than 100, even more preferably no more than 50 and most preferably
no more than even 10 ppmw.
[0055] The gasoline also preferably has a low total lead content, such as at most 0.005
g/l, most preferably being lead free--having no lead compounds added thereto (i.e.
unleaded).
[0056] When the gasoline comprises oxygenated hydrocarbons, at least a portion of nonoxygenated
hydrocarbons will be substituted for oxygenated hydrocarbons. The oxygen content of
the gasoline may be up to 35 percent by weight (EN 1601) (e.g. ethanol per se) based
on the gasoline. For example, the oxygen content of the gasoline may be up to 25 percent
by weight, preferably up to 10 percent by weight. Conveniently, the oxygenate concentration
will have a minimum concentration selected from any one of 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8,
1.0, and 1.2 percent by weight, and a maximum concentration selected from any one
of 5, 4.5, 4.0, 3.5, 3.0, and 2.7 percent by weight.
[0057] Examples of oxygenated hydrocarbons that may be incorporated into the gasoline include
alcohols, ethers, esters, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and their derivatives,
and oxygen containing heterocyclic compounds. Preferably, the oxygenated hydrocarbons
that may be incorporated into the gasoline are selected from alcohols (such as methanol,
ethanol, propanol, 2-propanol, butanol, tert-butanol, iso-butanol and 2-butanol),
ethers (preferably ethers containing 5 or more carbon atoms per molecule, e.g., methyl
tert-butyl ether and ethyl tert-butyl ether) and esters (preferably esters containing
5 or more carbon atoms per molecule); a particularly preferred oxygenated hydrocarbon
is ethanol.
[0058] When oxygenated hydrocarbons are present in the gasoline, the amount of oxygenated
hydrocarbons in the gasoline may vary over a wide range. For example, gasolines comprising
a major proportion of oxygenated hydrocarbons are currently commercially available
in countries such as Brazil and U.S.A., e.g. ethanol per se and E85, as well as gasolines
comprising a minor proportion of oxygenated hydrocarbons, e.g. E10 and E5. Therefore,
the gasoline may contain up to 100 percent by volume oxygenated hydrocarbons. E100
fuels as used in Brazil are also included herein. Preferably, the amount of oxygenated
hydrocarbons present in the gasoline is selected from one of the following amounts:
up to 85 percent by volume; up to 70 percent by volume; up to 65 percent by volume;
up to 30 percent by volume; up to 20 percent by volume; up to 15 percent by volume;
and, up to 10 percent by volume, depending upon the desired final formulation of the
gasoline. Conveniently, the gasoline may contain at least 0.5, 1.0 or 2.0 percent
by volume oxygenated hydrocarbons.
[0059] Examples of suitable gasolines include gasolines which have an olefinic hydrocarbon
content of from 0 to 20 percent by volume (ASTM D1319), an oxygen content of from
0 to 5 percent by weight (EN 1601), an aromatic hydrocarbon content of from 0 to 50
percent by volume (ASTM D1319) and a benzene content of at most 1 percent by volume.
[0061] Whilst not critical to the present invention, the base gasoline or the gasoline composition
of the present invention may conveniently include one or more optional fuel additives,
in addition to the essential Mannich and quaternary ammonium detergents mentioned
above. The concentration and nature of the optional fuel additive(s) that may be included
in the base gasoline or the gasoline composition used in the present invention is
not critical. Non-limiting examples of suitable types of fuel additives that can be
included in the base gasoline or the gasoline composition used in the present invention
include anti-oxidants, corrosion inhibitors, antiwear additives or surface modifiers,
flame speed additives, detergents, dehazers, antiknock additives, metal deactivators,
valve-seat recession protectant compounds, dyes, solvents, carrier fluids, diluents
and markers. Examples of suitable such additives are described generally in
U.S. Pat. No. 5,855,629.
[0062] Conveniently, the fuel additives can be blended with one or more solvents to form
an additive concentrate, the additive concentrate can then be admixed with the base
gasoline or the gasoline composition of the present invention.
[0063] The (active matter) concentration of any optional additives present in the base gasoline
or the gasoline composition of the present invention is preferably up to 1 percent
by weight, more preferably in the range from 5 to 2000 ppmw, advantageously in the
range of from 300 to 1500 ppmw, such as from 300 to 1000 ppmw.
EXAMPLES
[0064] The following examples are illustrative of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure.
In these examples as well as elsewhere in this application, all ratios, parts, and
percentages are by weight unless otherwise indicated. It is intended that these examples
are being presented for the purpose of illustration only and are not intended to limit
the scope of the invention disclosed herein. The specifications the base fuel in the
Examples is shown below in Table 1.
Table 1: Fuel Specifications.
PROPERTY |
UNITS |
BASE FUEL |
API Gravity |
-- |
55.5 |
Specific Gravity |
-- |
0.7567 |
Density |
g/mL |
0.7559 |
Bromine No. |
-- |
15 |
BTU Gross |
btu/lb |
19558 |
BTU Net |
btu/lb |
18326 |
Unwashed Gum (ASTM D-381) |
mg/100 mL |
7 |
Washed Gum (ASTM D381) |
mg/100 mL |
2 |
Oxidation Stability (ASTM D-525) |
minutes |
960+ |
RVP (ASTM D-5191) |
psi |
7.61 |
Carbon |
wt % |
86.5 |
Hydrogen |
wt % |
13.5 |
Aromatics |
vol % |
34.6 |
Olefins |
vol % |
6.2 |
Saturates |
vol % |
59.2 |
Ethanol |
vol % |
0 |
Oxygen Content |
wt % |
0 |
Sulfur |
ppm |
4.5 |
RON |
-- |
91.4 |
MON |
-- |
82.9 |
Octane (R+M)/2 |
-- |
87.2 |
Distillation (ASTM D-86) |
Initial Boiling Point |
°F |
92.9 |
5% |
°F |
114.6 |
10% |
°F |
131.4 |
20% |
°F |
155.2 |
30% |
°F |
178.6 |
40% |
°F |
204.3 |
50% |
°F |
227.8 |
60% |
°F |
247.5 |
70% |
°F |
268 |
80% |
°F |
291.4 |
90% |
°F |
321.8 |
95% |
°F |
349.5 |
End Point |
°F |
411.3 |
Recovery |
% |
96.6 |
Residue |
% |
1.1 |
Loss |
% |
2.3 |
EXAMPLE 1
[0065] An oleylamidopropyl dimethylammonium betaine quaternary ammonium internal salt can
be made by the process described in
US Patent No. 8,894,726 (Inventive Example 3), which is incorporated herein by reference.
EXAMPLE 2
[0066] The two Mannich detergents and the quaternary ammonium salt were blended into the
base fuel described in Table 1 at the treat rates set forth in Table 2 below. The
First Mannich Detergent was prepared from a high reactivity polyisobutylene cresol,
a diamine, and formaldehyde according to a known method (see, e.g.,
US 6,800,103, which is incorporated herein by reference). The Second Mannich Detergent was prepared
using the same method but with a monoamine. The quaternary ammonium internal salt
was oleylamidopropyl dimethylammonium from Example 1.
Table 2
Ingredients |
Comparative Example 1 |
Comparative Example 2 |
Inventive Example |
ppmw |
PTB |
ppmw |
PTB |
ppmw |
PTB |
First Mannich Detergent |
50 |
13.2 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
13.2 |
Second Mannich Detergent |
50 |
13.2 |
0 |
0 |
50 |
13.2 |
Quaternary Ammonium Internal Salt |
0 |
0 |
3 |
0.8 |
3 |
0.8 |
Mannich detergent to Quaternary ammonium salt weight ratio |
- |
- |
33: 1 |
[0067] A series of three dirty-up/clean-up (DU/CU) tests were run to evaluate the impact
that fuels from Table 2 have on fuel injector deposits in a vehicle equipped with
a gasoline direct injection engine (GDI). All tests were run with the base fuel from
Table 1 during the Dirty-up (DU) and Clean-up (CU) phases of the respective test.
The fuels were tested to evaluate the ability of each class of additive, Mannich Detergent
mixture and quaternary ammonium salt, to improve injector performance by reducing
injector deposits in the GDI engine both individually (Comparative Example 1 and Comparative
Example 2) and together (Inventive Example).
[0068] The base fuel had previously been evaluated in a bench engine to determine its propensity
to foul, or dirty-up, injectors. The level of fouling could be measured indirectly
using Engine Control Management (ECM) algorithm parameters such as changes in injector
pulse width or long-term fuel trim (LTFT). The test bed for this evaluation was a
gasoline direct injection GM LHU engine pursuant to the RIFT methods as set forth
in
Smith, S. and Imoehl, W., "Measurement and Control of Fuel Injector Deposits in Direct
Injection Gasoline Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 2013-01-2616, 2013, doi:10.4271/2013-01-2616 and/or
Shanahan, C., Smith, S., and/or Sears, B., "A General Method for Fouling Injectors
in Gasoline Direct Injection Vehicles and the Effects of Deposits on Vehicle Performance,"
SAE Int. J. Fuels Lubr. 10(3):2017, doi: 10.4271/2017-01-2298, both of which are incorporated by reference herein.
[0069] In order to accelerate the DU phase of the Base Fuel, a combination of di-tert-butyl
disulfide (DTBDS 406.1ppmw) and tert-butyl hydrogen peroxide (TBHP, 286ppmw) were
added to the base fuel to provide the fouling in the range of 5-12% within the time
allotted to the DU phase. Percent of fouling in the GM engine based on injector pulse
width is calculated as:

[0070] A series of three GDI CU deposit tests were conducted to demonstrate the removal
of deposits that had been formed in the fuel injectors during the dirty-up (DU) phase.
The base fuel in Table 1, treated with DTBDS and TBHP, was used for DU. This vehicle-based
test procedure used a 2008 Pontiac Solstice vehicle mounted to a chassis dynamometer.
This procedure was first set forth in
DuMont, R., et. al., "Test and Control of Fuel Injector Deposits in Direct Injected
Spark Ignition Vehicles," SAE Technical Paper 2009-01-2641, 2009, doi: 10.4271/2009-01-2641. It consists of a 48-hour DU cycle with continuous monitoring of LTFT to maintain
stoichiometric Air/Fuel ratio. After the DU cycle was completed, the fuel was changed
to one of the additized formulations described in Table 2 and then operated for a
48-hour CU cycle. The percentage of LTFT increase during the DU cycle, and subsequent
decrease during the CU cycle, is one parameter for evaluating the fouling or cleaning
effect of the fuel candidate at the treat rates set forth in Table 3 below, which
demonstrated a clean-up (CU) of 62% within 48 hours for the inventive example. CU
is calculated as in the following equation:
Table 3
|
Comparative Example 1 |
Comparative Example 2 |
Inventive Example |
First Mannich Detergent, PTB |
13.2 |
0 |
13.2 |
Second Mannich Detergent, PTB |
13.2 |
0 |
13.2 |
Quaternary ammonium salt, PTB |
0 |
0.8 |
0.8 |
GDI CU by RIFT method, % LTFT |
Steady state 55 mph |
6.2 |
28.1 |
62.0 |
[0071] As shown in Table 3 above, the inventive example exhibited improved injector clean-up
relative to the comparative examples. With the combination of the first and second
Mannich detergents and the quaternary ammonium salt, the CU% was 62% while the two
Mannich detergents alone provided 6.2% GDI CU and the quaternary ammonium salt 28.1%.
Figure 1 is a graphical representation of the data in Table 3. Figure 1 shows Long
Term Fuel Trim (LTFT) of the Inventive example and Comparative examples 1 and 2
[0072] It is noted that, as used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular
forms "a," "an," and "the," include plural referents unless expressly and unequivocally
limited to one referent. Thus, for example, reference to "an antioxidant" includes
two or more different antioxidants. As used herein, the term "include" and its grammatical
variants are intended to be non-limiting, such that recitation of items in a list
is not to the exclusion of other like items that can be substituted or added to the
listed items
[0073] For the purposes of this specification and appended claims, unless otherwise indicated,
all numbers expressing quantities, percentages or proportions, and other numerical
values used in the specification and claims, are to be understood as being modified
in all instances by the term "about." Accordingly, unless indicated to the contrary,
the numerical parameters set forth in the following specification and attached claims
are approximations that can vary depending upon the desired properties sought to be
obtained by the present disclosure. At the very least, and not as an attempt to limit
the application of the doctrine of equivalents to the scope of the claims, each numerical
parameter should at least be construed in light of the number of reported significant
digits and by applying ordinary rounding techniques.
[0074] It is to be understood that each component, compound, substituent or parameter disclosed
herein is to be interpreted as being disclosed for use alone or in combination with
one or more of each and every other component, compound, substituent or parameter
disclosed herein.
[0075] It is further understood that each range disclosed herein is to be interpreted as
a disclosure of each specific value within the disclosed range that has the same number
of significant digits. Thus, for example, a range from 1 to 4 is to be interpreted
as an express disclosure of the values 1, 2, 3 and 4 as well as any range of such
values.
[0076] It is further understood that each lower limit of each range disclosed herein is
to be interpreted as disclosed in combination with each upper limit of each range
and each specific value within each range disclosed herein for the same component,
compounds, substituent or parameter. Thus, this disclosure to be interpreted as a
disclosure of all ranges derived by combining each lower limit of each range with
each upper limit of each range or with each specific value within each range, or by
combining each upper limit of each range with each specific value within each range.
That is, it is also further understood that any range between the endpoint values
within the broad range is also discussed herein. Thus, a range from 1 to 4 also means
a range from 1 to 3, 1 to 2, 2 to 4, 2 to 3, and so forth.
[0077] Furthermore, specific amounts/values of a component, compound, substituent or parameter
disclosed in the description or an example is to be interpreted as a disclosure of
either a lower or an upper limit of a range and thus can be combined with any other
lower or upper limit of a range or specific amount/value for the same component, compound,
substituent or parameter disclosed elsewhere in the application to form a range for
that component, compound, substituent or parameter.